responses to questions raised during the scoa … · soil testing and excavations were completed...

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED DURING THE SCOA BRIEFING

ON THE SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS IN VOTE 41 (DEPARTMENT OF

WATER AND SANITATION) CONVENED ON 16 JULY 2020

Contents

1. Report on Mount Ayliff project ............................................................................................. 1

2. Infrastructure projects and COVID-19 interventions ............................................................ 2

3. Human resources ................................................................................................................ 8

4. Finance and expenditure matters .......................................................................................11

5. Investigations .....................................................................................................................14

6. Planning .............................................................................................................................15

7. Regulation ..........................................................................................................................17

http://www.dwa.gov.za/

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED DURING THE SCOA BRIEFING ON THE SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS IN VOTE 41 (DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION) CONVENED ON 16 JULY 2020

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RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED DURING THE SCOA BRIEFING ON THE SPECIAL

ADJUSTMENTS IN VOTE 41 (DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION) CONVENED

ON 16 JULY 2020

Questions:

1. Report on Mount Ayliff project

For the last 4 years we went for oversight visit in Mt Ayliff – we saw corruption alive.

Contract was R300k – you saved R166k and we realised there was corruption. We want

detailed information on the matter. To date no report has been received from the

department.

Reply:

The Nongwadla Water Scheme (WS) is in Alfred Nzo District Municipality and services Ngqane

Village in Ward 16 of Ntabankulu Local Municipality. The project serves 216 people living in 43

households. The project was implemented under the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant

(MWIG) during the 2013/14 financial year.

The aim of the project was to refurbish an existing scheme that was no longer functional due to a

broken spring protection. The Nongwadla Scheme was constructed by the O R Tambo District

Municipality well before the Ntabankulu and Mbizana Local Municipality areas were demarcated

to fall under the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in 2011 local Government Elections. The scheme

was identified and considered as one of the low hanging fruits since the spring that was utilised

as a source still had water though it was leaking at the time. The estimated project cost was

R300 000 at the time of registration and business plan approval. However, the extent of damage

to the existing infrastructure and repairs required to refurbish the spring and effect reticulation

could not be quantified prior to the approval of the business plan. The Alfred Nzo District

Municipality then registered a project under the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant (MWIG),

administered by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

The Nongwandla WS project scope entailed development of the spring protection, recapturing of

a spring eye and connecting to the existing system, rudimentary draw-offs (A stand tap was

provided next to spring for the communities next to the spring) and construction of scour valve.

The budget allocated to the project was R300 000 and the expenditure, in accordance with the

scope of work done was R 133 238.30. A savings of R166 761.70 was shifted and spent on other

projects.

The Standing Committee on Appropriations visited the Nongwadla Project on 03 February 2015

for their oversight work, almost a year after the project was completed. This visit was preceded

by the visit by the Department of Water and Sanitation officials on 28 January 2015 who found


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that there was erosion that had occurred and exposed a pipe below the spring protection which

the Alfred Nzo DM was sensitized to attend to. When the Committee visited the area on 03

February 2015, fresh concrete work was observed at the site. The fresh concrete work had been

done, not as part of the project scope, but done by the Alfred Nzo DM to ensure that the exposed

pipeline was covered.

The full reports on the Nongwadla Scheme in Mount Ayliff is included as Annexures 1(a) 1(b)

and 1(c)

2. Infrastructure projects and COVID-19 interventions

2.1 Water tankers on ground delivered but not delivered which was paid for

Reply:

The Department, with the assistance of the responsible Water Services Authorities took

responsibility to monitor tanker services implemented as part of the COVID operations. In

total about 10 Ml/d were carted by road totalling to 823 Ml/d (up until 12 July). There were

truck break downs due to the challenging terrains to be navigated, vandalism, and other

reasons reported as to why some tanks were not refilled in time, A but a concerted effort is

underway to address these shortcomings up until 31 August when Phase 1 of th is

intervention comes to an end.

2.2 Process followed to award contract to Rand Water

Reply:

Rand Water as an entity of the DWS was appointed as per the Section 41 of the Water

Services Act.

2.3 What progress has been made by DWS with achievement of NDP targets and to

what extent can COVID19 derail those targets?

Reply:

With the reprioritisation of grant funding to fund the COVID intervention, there are Regional

Bulk Infrastructure Grant projects that were impacted upon in terms of curtailment of budget.

There are no new projects planned to be started in the RBIG space for 2020/21, thus would

the impact be limited to existing projects. The list of projects is attached as Annexure 2.

2.4 Price charged per tank


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Reply:

The average cost per tank, including the stand construction or steel platform and plumbing

is as follows:

Tank size Average cost per tank

2500 litre R6 436.85

2700 litre R 7 158.69

5000 litre R 9 854.15

10000litre R 17 561.00

2.5 Long-term plans to supply water to the unserved communities?

Reply:

COVID-19 Water and Sanitation Intervention Phase 2 will see most of these tanks be

converted into rudimentary water supply schemes, connected to boreholes, springs or

existing water mains, where possible. This will be a more sustainable form of water supply

with the eventual goal of providing formalised water service as it is to form part of the

Municipalities’ Water Services Development Plans.

2.6 Are the tanks decontaminated regularly to prevent health problems?

Reply:

The Scientific Services of Rand Water fulfilled the duties of water quality monitoring

oversight, whilst water quality management in municipalities is primarily responsible for the

day to day assurance of SANS 241 compliance as the tanks are filled with water obtained

from water treatment works managed by the municipalities that are Water Service

Authorities (WSA).

2.7 Provide list of companied awarded contracts to deliver water tanks and the

value of contracts

Reply:

Please refer to Annexure 3 for the list of service providers and value of contracts.


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2.8 Progress on the implementation of the Vaal River System Intervention Project

Reply:

DWS appointed the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) for a period of 1 year to

assist with the rehabilitation of the environmental damage caused by the compromised

sewer systems in the area. This intervention’s successes to-date can be measured as:

• 92% of 27.4km of sewer lines cleaned;

• 50 tons of rubble removed from these lines;

• Inflow into the Sebokeng WWTW increased from 18 Ml/d to 120 Ml/d;

• Inflow into Rietspruit WWTW increased from 19 Ml/d to 43 Ml/d.

There is still significant work to be done and the Departmental Construction unit is currently

scoping the remainder of the work required for in-house capacity to be used to complete the

project. The South African National Defence Force exited the project on 31 January 2020 and

is no longer assisting with this intervention.

2.9 Progress on Umzimvubu Project

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s internal Construction Unit took site at Ntabelanga

to commence with the advance infrastructure work (Roads and Offices), whilst the main

Dam Construction funding model is being finalised with the assistance of National Treasury.

The project also forms part of the Presidential Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Symposium (SIDS).

2.10 Progress on the Bucket Eradication Programme and associated challenges

Reply:

The Department has appointed its internal Construction Unit to undertake the construction of

associated Bulk Infrastructure Services in Free State for the Bucket Eradication Projects (BEP)

in Setsoto Local Municipality, Gift of the Givers in Nketoane Local Municipality and Tokologo Local

Municipality. Further progress includes:

In Ficksburg, 2 pumpstations will be built and excavations are completed for both and

awaiting the award of national tenders.

In Arlington, Dealesville, Reitz and Petrus Steyn, comprehensive infrastructure analysis of

the existing completed infrastructure was completed to guide the implementation of the new

bulk services. Soil testing and excavations were completed for the above new infrastructure

services.

In the Senekal Project, work on 2 pump stations is in progress with excavations completed,

inlet works completed at PS 1 and some 1 348m of 5653m of gravity main lines completed.


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In Clocolan, 2 pumpstation are being constructed with excavations for the sump in progress

and 1 702m of 7221m of gravity main completed.

In the Northern Cape, 4 projects in Tsantsabane LM and Siyancuma LM are making good

progress as follows:

In the Northern Cape, there are four remaining projects to complete and progress is as follows:

1) Maranteng (100% Completed),

2) Postdene (70% completed),

3) Griekwastad (92% completed of toilets flushing and 50% completed with the construction of

the pump station)

4) In Campbell, a new alternative sanitation solution (low flush toilet system) will be

implemented in partnership with the Water Research Commission due to planning and budget

constraints experienced by the municipality.

The backlogs for the project relate to procurement of materials on national tender and Works

Quotations (WQ’s) below R500 000,00. The latter quotations in some cases are rendered

unsuccessful as bids received are non-responsive due to:

Prices for required materials being very expensive

Bids not being received on some tenders for supply and delivery of materials or an insufficient

number of bids being received for competitive evaluation and award

All efforts are being made to ensure that the project challenges are resolved to ensure that the

project remains on course for completion at the end of the 2020/21 financial year.

2.11 Progress on the Bizana Water Scheme in the Eastern Cape

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) implemented a bulk water supply project around

Bizana to augment the bulk water supply within the Mbizana LM including the town of Bizana

which is located in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The project aimed to

develop a new water resource, increase the capacity of the water treatment works and to improve

the bulk water distribution to the region. The project was initiated by the O.R Tambo District

Municipality in February 2008, in its capacity as Water Services Authority (WSA) who appointed

Umgeni Water as an Implementing Agent (IA) for this scheme. This appointment was for the

planning, design, and construction of the bulk water supply components of the scheme, to be

undertaken in a phased manner over a number of years, based on priorities within the area and

the availability of funding. The project was planned to be implemented over 3 (three) phases. The

project is a bulk and reticulation water supply regional scheme to service a total current population

of 106 281 and a design population of 132 851, over a 30 year design horizon and is approved

for R353 073 471.00. The project will supply water to Wards 4,5,6,7,24,26,27 in the Mbizana Local

Municipality. Please refer to Annexure 4, for additional information regarding this project.


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2.12 When will the DWS resolve the challenges with water supply in Qwaqwa?

Water is available at the Sterkfontein Dam and other dams which can be used

as sources of water.

Reply:

Long term plans solutions have been identified identified through a feasibility study in the area to

address water challenges in the Maluti-A- Phofung Local Municipality, including Qwaqwa. The

Water and Sanitation Department has appointed Sedibeng Water as an implementing agent for

the Sterkfontein-Qwaqwa Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme to be funded through the

Regional Bulk Water Infrastructure Grant. The primary focus of this project is the sustainable

supply and augmentation of potable water to the greater Harrismith (Tshiame-Mokgholokweng)

and QwaQwa (including Kestell/Tlhlong) areas, including the rural communities of Diyatalawa and

Mokgholokweng.

The augmentation of the bulk water supply in the Phuthaditjhaba Region is included under this

project and in particular the urgent supply of drinking water to areas that have experienced critical

drinking water supply shortages during the recent droughts. Investigation of the Geohydrology of

the Phuthaditjhaba Region for the drilling of boreholes to supply water is ongoing to determine

suitable locations for the drilling & testing of borehole sites.

The completed components of the Regional Bulk Water Scheme are as indicated in the table

below:

Projects Description of the

projects

Year

completed

Estimated

project value

Benefiting

population

Sterkfontein

WTW

(Phase 1)

The construction of

Phase 1 of the

Sterkfontein WTW with a

capacity of 10Mℓ/day.

2013 R75,300,000 Phuthaditjhaba

(54,661)

Kestell (1,109)

Tlholong (7,160)

Harrismith (27,869)

Escol reservoir Construction of a 3,0Mℓ

concrete reservoir at

Escol to provide a

balancing storage facility

for the gravity supply to

the northern areas of

QwaQwa and

Kestell/Thlolong.


(54,661)

Kestell (1,109)

Tlholong (7,160)

Escol pipeline Installation of a rising

main from Sterkfontein

Dam to Escol reservoir.


(54,661)

Kestell (1,109) Tlholong (7,160)


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Projects Description of the

projects

Year

completed

Estimated

project value

Benefiting

population

Rising main to

Escol reservoir

The installation of a

gravity main from Escol

reservoir to storage

facilities in the northern

water supply region of

QwaQwa and the

provision of additional

storage capacity within

the northern water supply

regions.


(54,661)

Kestell (1,109)

Tlholong (7,160)

Construction of

a new raw water

abstraction

facility at

Sterkfontein

Dam

The completion of

Sterkfontein WTW, the

upgrading and provision

of the QwaQwa Rural

Bulk Water Supply,

installation of a new rising

main from Sterkfontein

WTW to Tshiame (IDZ -

Industrial Development

Zone), the Internal

QwaQwa Distribution

Connections and the

construction of a new

reservoir at Qholaqhwe.


(54,661)

Kestell (1,109)

Tlholong (7,160)

Harrismith (27,869)

Makwane

Scheme

New gravity main from

Metsi Matsho Dam to

Makwane WTW

Upgrading of Makwane

WTW to 10 Ml/day

Bulk distribution pipelines

(Matshekgeng and

Phahameng East).

2017 R81,000,000 Makwane (18,550)

Bulk

interconne

ction

pipeline:

Uniqwa –

Central

Qwaqwa

connection

Uniqwa – Central

Qwaqwa connection:

Installation of 500Ø uPVC

pipe, Construction of the

connection chambers,

refurbishment of the

existing chambers and

connection to existing

services.


(54,661)


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3. Human resources

3.1 What measures are in place to deal vacancies in the Department?

Reply:

Since the start of 2019, a total of 490 posts have been advertised and are in various stages

of filling. The posts that have been advertised are critical posts that were identified, as well

as posts that have become vacant as a result of natural attrition. However, the advent of

COVID19 has had an adverse impact on the department’s ability to conduct both recruitment

and selection processes over the past 4 months. The selection processes for those posts

that have already been advertised will be conducted through virtual (MS Teams) interviews.

3.2 What is the challenge with funding funded vacant positions?

Reply:

With a moratorium on the filling of posts that was introduced during the 5th Administration,

as well as a structure review process that was initiated at the beginning of the 6 th term, the

Department is managing the backlog of posts that are vacant; posts that have been identified

as being critical; as well as posts that have become vacant as a result of natural attrition.

Since March 2020, COVID-19 has had an adverse impact on the Department’s ability to fill

posts that have been advertised. Plans are currently being developed to resume selection

processes through alternative means; e.g. selection through virtual platforms.

3.3 How many of the vacancies are for critical skills to ensure frontline services

are delivered?

Reply:

A total of 377 posts have been identified as being critical (including both support- and core

functions). Out of the 377 posts, 198 posts fall within the core business Branches of the

Department which deliver frontline services.

3.4 The major skills deficiency is project management in SA. Does the DWS

agree? If yes, what is being done about it?

Reply:

The prevailing economic slowdown has resulted in the over-supply of high value technical

skills in the fields of civil engineering, construction project management and quantity

surveying. The slump in the construction market and the collapse of engineering firms has

created a skills surplus. Even before the current situation set hold, there were enough skills


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in the market; the challenge has always been the inability of government to attract and retain

these skills. The DPSA salary scale, including the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD)

is not competitive enough to attract and retain high value skills. Construction project

managers for large projects are paid above the OSD and the level 1-16 DPSA scales.

Furthermore the PMDS reward system is also not geared towards retaining high value skills.

Therefore, the challenge is not the scarcity of skills, but rather the public sector remuneration

regime which falls short when compared to the market.

3.5 What critical skills do you need to efficiently provide water to our people?

Reply:

The following critical skills as determined within the Department’s Integrated HR Plan, are

required for the Department to provide water:

Critical management skills:

Strategic Capability and Leadership

Financial Management

People Management and Empowerment

Change Management

Programme and Project Management

Critical technical skills:

Policy implementation.

Trade-related specific technical skills:

Engineering and related design.

Water science

Ground water development

Monitoring and evaluation

Water resource sampling

Water use technology

Dam design

Water measurement and distribution.

Water use technologies.

Species identification.

Engineering and related design.

Flood hydrology.

Hydra training.

Hydrographical survey (TAS).

Legalistic understanding of the water sector.

The technical and professional skills are required in the following occupational categories:


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Artisans in various areas.

Chemical and physical science technicians.

Scientists.

Engineering (including technicians) civil, mechanical, electrical and construction.

3.6 Unemployment is high and there are many graduates who are looking for jobs.

DWS to indicate timeframes on when vacancies will be filled. Also indicate how

many of the vacancies those are for critical skills such as engineers and

technicians and what is impact on the functionality of the Department?

Reply:

Through the Department’s Learning Academy Programme, a significant number of

Candidate Engineers, Scientists and Technicians are employed additional to the

establishment on fixed-term contracts and are in the process of moving towards obtaining

professional registration. Some of them have recently obtained registration. A decision was

taken in the beginning of 2020 to advertise entry level professional posts (engineers,

scientists, etc.) internally in the department only. This initiative provides them with an

opportunity to obtain permanent employment and serves as a return on investment for the

funds that the Department has invested in their development. The Department currently

employs a total of 191 Candidate Engineers, -Scientists and related -Technicians within the

aforementioned development programme.

The Learning Academy has proven to be a very successful initiative whereby the required

professional and technical skills are being developed for the sector in ensuring a long term

solution to address current and future skills requirements. It needs to, however, be noted

that a number of professional Engineers and Scientists in the senior levels with extensive

experience (i.e. Chief engineers) are nearing retirement. The supply of Candidates into entry

level positions is currently sufficient, but due to the occupational make-up of the

Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD), such professionals take a significant number of

years to progress to the “Chief Level”.

3.7 Explanation on why the aCFO has been acting for a period of 2 years

Reply:

The post was advertised in November 2018 and shortlisting was conducted in March 2019.

It was decided to re-advertise the post in April 2019 since no suitable candidates were found.

Subsequent to a directive by the Minister that the organisational structure should be

reviewed, the filling of the CFO post has been placed on hold due to amendments in the

responsibilities of the CFO position as well as reporting lines within the Branch. The

structure review has since been signed off by the Minister which places the Department in

a position to proceed in filling the post.


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4. Finance and expenditure matters

4.1 What are the reasons for the 8% under spending?

Reply:

Under spending is attributable the following:

Compensation of Employees - Under spending was due to vacant posts during the

greater part of the financial year across all the sub-programmes of the four programmes

within the department. Organisational Operational Arrangements and the organogram of the

Department are being streamlined and Programme Managers are working closely with Human

Resources to fast track the filling of critical vacancies in line with the baseline allocation.

Goods and Services -The under- performance is attributable to delayed spending on

planned activities and projects which were mostly at procurement and implementation

planning stages during the greater part of the financial year across all the sub-

programmes of the four Programmes. Expenditure is driven by planned functions related

activities, approval of Terms of Reference (ToR), procurement activities (DBAC) and

project implementation plans.)

Payment for Capital Assets (RBIG and WSIG) - The under-performance is due to the

delays in finalising planning process (Feasibility Study/Implementation Readiness

Study); adequate capacity within the provinces to do proper oversight and monitoring of

the projects; slow progress on the Bucket Eradication Programme, external factors such

as Community protests; late kick-start of procurement implementation by the

Implementing Agents, delays for provision of co-funding by the municipalities; and

litigation.

The Department will ensure continuous monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of

projects by the appointed Implementing Agents, speedy resolution of disputed invoices and

contractual disputes, fast tracking of certification and verification of all work done in order to

process invoices, accelerating the implementation of Emergency Drought Relief interventions and

rollout and completion of the remaining Bucket Eradication Projects.

4.2 Whether the DWS has centralised procurement?

Reply:

The centralised procurement of Goods and Services is undertaken at Head Office for bids

above R500 000.00. In terms of the delegations, all procurement less than R500 000 is

procured at the regional office (Proto CMA, Operational Cluster and Construction Sites and is

done through the quotations process. All three bid committees are constituted and

Departmental Bid Adjudication Committee for goods and service has been appointed for the

period of 12 Months including the Infrastructure Departmental Bid Adjudication Committee.


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4.3 How is DWS responding to the call to invest in the acceleration of infrastructure

considering the ongoing under-performance by DWS?

Reply:

COVID-19 has affected the procurement of most infrastructure projects even those which

the department is funding through Regional Bulk Infrastructure (RBIG) and Water Services

Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). The department has constituted departmental bid committee

two bid committees as follows:

Departmental bid committee for goods and services

Infrastructure departmental bid committee for all department infrastructure project

4.4 Are there on-going legal disputes against the department? Are there small

businesses involved?

Reply:

There are 14 ongoing legal disputes which involve various companies doing business with

the department. There are three disputes involving small businesses which are not yet litigious.

The nature of the disputes includes the following:

Failure of businesses companies to deliver agreed deliverables,

The department being required to pay invoices where it is not liable in law,

Invoices for services which have not been rendered.

4.5 How many of the black, women, and youth and disabilities owned companies

are getting work from the department?

Reply:

The Department’s procurement targets are 15% for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE) an

enterprise with turnover from 0 to R50 million per and 15% for Exempted Micro Enterprises (EME)

is enterprise with turnover from 0 to R10 Million. As per procurement targets, most enterprises

doing business with the department are EME and QSE. The percentage expenditure on QSEs is

14% and EME is 33% respectively, based on the system report generated by the SAP System

and the application of the prescribed method of calculation as per technical indicator descriptor.

Purchase Order Created for the 4th quarter 2019/2020 for Exempted Micro Enterprise

amounted to R 35 455 439,18 and Qualifying Small Enterprise amounted to R 14 937 458,30

targets for Second quarter divide by the number of Purchase of order created in 4th quarter

2019/2020

Purchase Order created for 4th quarter 2019/2020 with value of R 39 465 161, 24 were for

the service providers above the Small and Medium Enterprises and Micro (SMME) status and

R17 152 796, 12 were from service providers whom the information in terms of QSE and EME

status is not available on central supplier database (CSD) R 188 776, 14.


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4.6 30 days payment of invoices

Reply:

The 137 outstanding invoices not paid are attributed mainly to:

Operation and Maintenance done by the Lepelle Northern Water wherein the validation

and confirmation of work done by the Implementing Agency is underway;

War on Leaks outstanding invoices due to the budgetary constraints.

Budget reprioritisation is being done to absorb the expense in the current budget allocation.


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5. Investigations

5.1 Are there any cases of corruption where legal steps have been taken against

involved officials?

Reply:

Please see attached the Forensic Audit Cases (as Annexure 4). The document is a

reflection of the disciplinary action instituted for the period 2012 -2020. It contains a

summary of the disciplinary action instituted as well as the details of these cases (including

case numbers and amounts involved in each case being investigated).

5.2 Submit details about ongoing investigations into malfeasance?

Reply:

During the 2019/2020 financial year: 67 cases were received by Internal Audit and the status

is as follows (Both hotline cases and cases that were reported internally):

The investigations of 42 cases have been completed;

The investigations of 10 cases are in progress; and

15 cases have not been investigated yet.

5.3 Where cases have been lodged with the SAPS DWS to provide case numbers

and the amounts involved in each case being investigated

Reply:

Please see table below for relevant cases and case numbers in this regard:

No Description of case Recovered Recoverable SAPS case number

1 Investigation into the alleged irregular appointment of personnel and the alleged fraudulent use of official flight tickets to undertake private trips

27 106.00 27 106.00 -

2 Investigation into the alleged inflation of invoices at CD: Construction Management (Levubu)

10 000.00 46 650.00 Makhado CAS 97/12/2016


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No Description of case Recovered Recoverable SAPS case number

3 Investigation into the payment that was erroneously paid to a service provider for contract WQ4893

320 501.41 320 501.41 Pretoria CAS 460/2/2016

4 Investigation into the fraudulent purchase requisitions and purchase orders that were created at Construction North

622 463.94 622 463.94 Tzaneen CAS 209/2/2017

5 Investigation into the alleged procurement irregularities by the Works Civil Superintended at Construction North (3/6/3/2/1/1718/04)

13 391.65 13 391.65 -

6 Investigation into the suspended fraudulent roadworthy certificate

3 420.24 3 420.24 -

Total 996 883.24 1 033 533.24

6. Planning

6.1 World Economic Forum stated that next challenge would be water– what has

DWS done to ensure they deal with this problem?

Reply:

DWS works with sector partners to address water security to develop and continuously

update water resource development and management plans for the country in consultation

with other co-basin states. The Department undertakes various planning studies over 25-year

horizons, to ensure water security for the country. Such studies include (i) Water Availability

Assessment Studies (WAAS), which generate base input information for water resource

development and management; (ii) long term water resource reconciliation planning studies for

large and small demand centres, and (iii) catchment-based studies. These planning studies

culminate in strategies that address water needs for the country. The plans continuously

monitored and updated every 3 to 5 years to ensure that they remain current and relevant.

The outputs of the studies inform the National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS), the instrument

by which the minister gives effect to the National Water Act, as well as the master plans that

emanate from the NWRS. The studies are available on the DWS website, at

http://www6.dwa.gov.za/iwrp/projects.aspx, and the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan

(NW&SMP) is available at http://www.dwa.gov.za. The plans contain strategies to contain

http://www6.dwa.gov.za/iwrp/projects.aspxhttp://www.dwa.gov.za/


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water use demand, and how to optimize water use on an annual basis. Other elements of

the strategies include:

(i) preventing and reducing pollution of water resources;

(ii) expanding the water resources by exploring groundwater, surface water

developments, and desalination of impaired waters among others;

(iii) re-use of water,

(iv) transfer of water within the country from water rich basins to the drier areas; and

(v) transfer of water from other countries.

With respect to water transfers from other countries, DWS has explored extending the

geographical reach to access water for South Africa far beyond the country’s borders. The

options explored range from transfer of water into South Africa, to distribution of water-

intensive sectors like energy and food production to water rich areas. The department

launched the Water and Sanitation Master Plan and this plan seeks to streamline all water

and sanitation related projects as this is a sector-wide plan.

6.2 China identified Water desalination as one of the interventions. Petro SA

invested in this in Mosselbay – why has the DWS not invested in long term

sustainable water provision initiatives?

Reply:

Desalination of sea water or any impaired water features as one of the option for securing

new fresh water sources for the country. While desalination can supply an unlimited quantity

of high-quality, fully assured fresh water, at a predictable price, it is but one of other options, of

which the appropriateness for a demand centre must be assessed against other strategies as

discussed above. A desalination plant was built in 2017 in Richards Bay as part of drought

relief measures in the area. The City of Cape Town has implemented four units with 40 Ml

capacity in response to the drought experienced in 2015/16 to 2017/18 period.

6.3 What measures are in place to support municipalities to ensure projects are

delivered according to specifications and within budget?

Reply:

The department's support includes the provision of frameworks for water service development

planning (WSDP) project planning feasibility study guidelines, water service infrastructure

development technical guidelines and technical report as well as actual project assessment for

all water services funding streams). Both DWS and CoGTA as National departments have a

responsibility to support municipal performance regarding water services development, However

DWS has its own challenges in as far as the implementation of the National competence thus

cannot reach each and every municipal project.


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COGTA also has a mandate to support municipalities to ensure compliance as it also funds water

projects and has oversight responsibility on WSA municipalities.

7. Regulation

7.1 Impact of COVID -19 on the operations of entities including staff:

7.1.1 Number of COVID cases in each Water Board and when?

7.1.2 Whether buildings of offices were closed and period of closure

7.1.3 What has the effect of COVID on business continuity

7.1.4 Debt owed to Water Boards – how much has been lost due to COVID19

Reply:

Please refer to (Annexure 5) as attached hereto for information on the impact of COVID-19

on the Water Boards.

7.2 Regarding the pollution of the Vaal River System – is the ‘polluter pays’ principle

being implemented?

Reply:

A project to implement the Waste Discharge Charge System (WDCS) was initiated in October

2011 and came to an end in December 2013. The WDCS is based on the polluter-pays principle

and aims to promote the sustainable development and efficient use of water resources and create

financial incentives for dischargers to reduce waste and use water resources in a more optimal

way.

The project was implemented in three pilot areas namely, Upper Vaal, Upper Olifants and

Crocodile West-Marico. A situational analysis of pilot areas and drafting of the WDCS Strategy

were completed as part of the project. The setting of tariffs and the implementation of the WDCS

was not completed as part of the project. In the 2019/2020 financial year the Department re-

initiated the project and appointed a Project Steering Committee as well as a Technical Task

Team to conduct a gap analysis. Due to financial constraints all this work was done internally

without any consultants. The purpose of the gap analysis was to assess the work previously done

in terms of WDCS in the three priority catchments, what is required to implement WDCS

successfully and where the Department currently is in terms of readiness for implementation.

National Rollout is projected from 2023 – 2025.


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7.3 What is the role of mines in polluting rivers?

Reply:

Mining-related pollution impacts on the Vaal River System arise largely through mine waste

facilities or discharge of waste water into the water resources. These activities constitute

water uses in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 and/ or the National Environmental

Management Act, 1998, for which mines are required to have the relevant environmental

authorisations. The management of mine waste water and mine waste facilities is generally

compliant with authorisation conditions, with interventions such as recirculation of waste

water, re-use of water and treatment prior to discharge ensuring that potential pollution

impacts from mines are mitigated. As a strategic response to high-risk mining-related

pollution:

DWS has implemented the Witwatersrand Acid Mine Drainage project

DWS is working closely with the mining sector to ensure the realisation of interventions

that will address pollution impacts whilst mines are active, and promote sustainable post -

mining water management; and

Latent water resources impacts after mines have closed may be remedied through the

Financial Provision Regulations

Furthermore, the department has established the Anti-Pollution Task Team (APTT) was

established in 2019. The APPT focuses its efforts on identifying high-risk pollution activities,

integrating the national and provincial/ local government structure regulatory functions, and

executing a response that seeks to hold the polluter accountable so that remedial action

can be taken. The Department has about 974 facilities registered as discharging waste or

wastewater across all sectors in the Upper Vaal. The following enforcement actions, as

indicated Annexure 6, have been taken against water users discharging waste or wastewater in

the Upper Vaal since 2014/15.

Notices of intention to issue a directive = 140

Directives = 21

Criminal Cases = 4

Civil Cases =10 interdicts

It must be noted that a majority of industries discharge into the municipal sewer network and not

directly into the resource. Waste or wastewater discharged in the upper parts of the Vaal finds

its way into the Vaal Dam, hence the focus on Upper Vaal. The main sources of pollution

remain the wastewater treatment works and mines. The Department has monitored over 240 of

the 561 authorized mines for compliance with their water use entitlements since 2014/15

nationally. Of these, 159 mines recorded a compliance level below 50% in terms of the conditions

in their authorizations. While dealing with authorized but non-compliant mines, there is a recorded

152 unauthorized mines that the Department is also dealing with. The summary of actions taken

against mines since 2014/15 is indicated in (Annexure 7):


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Audits conducted = 240

Investigations conducted = 121

Notices = 98

Directives = 28

Criminal Cases = 1

Civil Cases = 1

responses to questions raised during the scoa … · soil testing and excavations were completed...

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